POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Image Not Available

Images may not be available due to copyright, cultural or privacy reasons, or an object has not been photographed.

Photographic Archive of Henry Talbot

Object No. 2008/163/1

Henry Talbot was one of Australia's leading post-WWII fashion photographers. In 1956 Helmut Newton (b. Helmut Neustadter), a close friend of Talbot's since their time in the army, offered him a partnership in his photographic studio. The studio then became known as Newton & Talbot. From the late 1950s through to the early 1970s Talbot produced commercial photography for various Australian fashion and advertising clients including the Australian Wool Board, Fibremakers, Banlon, Kayser, Prestige and Hilton Hosiery, Sportscraft, and Fletcher Jones. He also did work for General Motors Holden photographing cars for their catalogues. His photographs appeared in Vogue and Flair (Australia), Harpers Bazaar (England), Jardin des Monde (France), and many other magazines and catalogues. The Powerhouse Museum acquired the commercial photography archive of Henry Talbot in 1993 (Powerhouse Museum object number 93/246/1). Since then the Museum has provided images from the collection for numerous internal and external exhibitions and publications including Celebrating Australia: identity by design (2001), In your face: contemporary graphic design (2006), Cars & Culture: our driving passions (1998-2000), and Fashion from fleece: 200 years of Australian wool in fashion (2007). This small archive was bequeathed to the Museum by the photographer shortly before his death. The collections consists primarily of colour transparencies with a small number of b&w negatives and proof prints. It relates directly to the Museum's larger, and more substantial archive. Many of the photographs can be linked directly to previously acquired series - Hollandia Shoes (Powerhouse Museum object number 93/246/1-7/52), the Everglaze Fabrics series (Powerhouse Museum object number 93/246/1-8/31), General Motors Holden series (Powerhouse Museum object number 93/246/1-6/17) and other series. It is anticipated that the collection will continue to be drawn upon for a wide range of projects relating to Australian material culture as commercial photography archives, and in particular the fashion photographs in these archives, provide a rich source of historical information and a wealth of visual evidence, beyond fashion. Anne-Marie Van de Ven, Curator 2008 Further reference: http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ebooks/HenryTalbot/index.php?chapter=3

Loading...

Summary

Object Statement

Archive of colour transparencies, black and white negatives, and colour proof prints, photographer Henry Talbot, Europe / Australia / Asia, 1956-1998

Physical Description

Archive contains fashion, automobile, general commercial and personal photography as listed below. Fashion 1. Negatives (4 sheets, 48 photographs), black and white, fashion parade, Straesse Seeger (Seeger St), Berlin, photography by Henry Talbot, Berlin 1960s. 2. Colour transparencies (11 sheets, 128 photographs), single models in different locations, some on the banks of the Yarra River, some outside Henry's house in A'Beckett Street, Como Park, and some with car, produced for Hollandia shoe advertisements, [for Family Circle], photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, mid 1970's 3. Colour transparencies (3 sheets), 31 photographs of single models in various locations, some with artist's easel, some in car with Henry's wife Lynette's corgi, Wey, others taken on the banks of the Yarra River, produced for Hollandia Shoe advertisements, [for Family Circle], photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1974-1976. Relates to 93/246/1-7/52 4. Colour transparencies (8 sheets), 91 photographs of women and children wearing slippers, some photographed in Henry Talbot's house at A'Beckett Street, Armadale, produced for Hollandia Shoe advertisements, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1974-1976. Relates to 93/246/1 - 7/52 5. Colour transparencies (13), photographs shot in Kyoto, Japan for Everglaze Fabric advertisements, for Woman's Day, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1963. (26/3/1963). Relates to 93/246/1-8/31 6. Colour transparencies (8), photographs of Mai Ling Chan, 'Queen of Models' in Hong Kong, modelling evening gowns in restaurant, photography by Henry Talbot, Hong Kong, around 1960. 7. Colour transparency, photograph of Janice Wakely on rickshaw, in front of neon signs, photography by Henry Talbot, Hong Kong, [1960]. Relates to 93/246/1-7/96 8. Colour transparencies (11), photographs of model in knitwear fishing on South Yarra Bank on bridge at end of Toorak, between Orrong Road Bridge, [for Family Circle], photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated. Relates to 93/246/1-7/74 9. Colour transparencies (4), photographs of 4 models in swimsuits on edge of water on the beach, for Maglia advertisements, for Australian Women's Weekly, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1969. Relates to 93/246/1-7/54 10. Colour transparencies (12), 8 photographs of model in swimsuit and hat in small wooden building, and 4 photographs of landscapes, for Watersun swimsuit advertisements, photography by Henry Talbot, Bali, 1970 11. Colour transparencies (2), photographs of 3 male models in knitwear and Cheryl Rixon, [Playboy] Bunny of Year, in nude with sweater around shoulders, for Crestknit Knitwear advertisement (photograph was made into a billboard size image), photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, Victoria, 1974-1975 12. Colour transparencies (2), photographs of model 'Lilli', in knitwear sitting on treadle sewing machine, for Family Circle, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1974-1976 13. Colour transparencies (2), photographs of two models in long dresses with cat indoors, for Family Circle magazine, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1974-1975 14. Colour transparencies (4), photographs of peasant look on banks of [South Yarra] near Toorak for Family Circle, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne 1974-75 15. Colour transparencies (2), photograph of girl in knitwear carrying bale of hay, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated. 16. Colour transparency, photograph of model with two large dogs for Family Circle magazine, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated. (This model ran a children's modelling agency.) Relates to 93/246/1 - 7/47 17. Colour transparencies (3), photograph of model in knitwear with donkey, for Family Circle magazine, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1974-1975. (Model was top regular model at the time.) Relates to 93/246/1 - 7/39 18. Colour transparencies (3), photographs of Japanese model known as 'Leilani ' (or 'Heavenly Flower'), photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated. The Japanese model 'Lelani ', also known as 'Heavenly Flower', who went to Britain to live where she married a Times reporter. Relates to 93/246/1-7/15 19. Colour transparencies (7), photographs of model Suzi Cuthbert, modelling white gown with long floral decorated sleeves, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1968. Model married photographer, Greg Weight. Relates to 93/246/1-7/10 20. Colour transparencies (8), photographs of model Suzi Cuthbert modelling orange dress in Victorian countryside, dress possibly by Prue Acton, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1968. Relates to 93/246/1-7/9 21. Colour transparencies (2), photographs of male model, possibly from Eileen Ford's Agency, New York, photography by Henry Talbot, undated. 22. Colour transparency, photograph of Henry Talbot with horse, Victoria, 1960's 23. Colour transparencies (3), photographs of models Tony Irving and Ushki Huber modelling hand knitted garments with paintings in background for Porrett Knitwear, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated. 24. Colour transparency, photograph of model Jennifer Ward [Hard] modelling fur, for Lisal Fur advertisement /promotion, Dior Franchise, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1970s Relates to 93/246/1 - 7/53 25. Colour transparency, photograph of board rider on wave at [Bondi], photography by Henry Talbot, Sydney, late 1970s 26. Colour transparency, photograph of blonde model, for Angelique Cosmetics, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated. Relates to 93/246/1-7/46 27. Colour transparency, photograph of model Suzi Cuthbert sitting on chair wearing only pantyhose, for Prestige advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, 1960s. Relates to 93/246/1-7/2 28. Colour transparency, photograph of model Jenny MacKenzie modelling pantyhose in see-through dress, for Prestige advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, 1970's. Relates to 93/246/1-7/20 29. Colour transparencies (2), photographs of model Jennifer Hard lying on floor wearing only pantyhose for Prestige hosiery, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1970s. Relates to 93/246/1-7/21 30. Colour transparencies (2), one photograph of model, Helen Homewood standing on wagon and man with buffalo, and one photograph of her standing with man and buffalo, for Sportscraft advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, Thailand, undated. 31. Colour transparencies (7), photographs of model Penny Pardey in Pierre Cardin dress leaning on motor scooter, photography by Henry Talbot, Paris, 1967. Relates to 93/246/1-7/42 32. Colour transparency, photograph with double exposure of model Judy O'Connell in striped coat, photography by Henry Talbot, Paris, 1967. Relates to 93/246/1-7/58 and 92/1950/ 33. Colour transparency, photograph of street scene, photography by Henry Talbot, Paris, 1967. 34. Colour transparencies (2), photographs of model on a city street with advertising poster column, photography by Henry Talbot, Paris, late 1950s. 35. Colour transparencies (2), photographs of model with elephants and attendants with large pink building in background, photography by Henry Talbot, India, [1960s] 36. Colour transparency, photograph of two models (Janice Wakely and Helen Homewood], Henry Talbot, [Maharajah of Jaipur] and attendants with elephants with large pink building in background, photography by Henry Talbot, India, [1960s] 37. Colour transparency, photograph of model in long flowery gown in colonnade of Taj Mahal, photography by Henry Talbot, India, [1960s] 38. Colour transparency, photograph of model [Helen Hmewood] in long flowery gown in shadowed interior of Taj Mahal, photography by Henry Talbot, India, undated (c1960). 39. Colour transparencies (3), photographs of model on balcony in underwear, for Lotus Lingerie, photography by Henry Talbot, New York, late 1950s - early 1960s. 40. Colour transparency, 5" x 4", nylon pantyhose advertisement, model with telephone, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1960-1975. 41. Colour transparency 5" x 4", advertisement, model with ornate necklace, men with pistols/ revolvers flanking her left and right, slightly blurred in background, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1965-1980. 42. Colour transparency, 35mm, Fur advertisement, model Yvonne Rockman, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1965-1980. 43. Colour transparency, 5"x4", [Lucas] lingerie, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1950-1970. 44. Colour transparency, 35mm, Fur advertisement, model Yvonne Rockman, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1965-1980. 45. Colour transparency, 5"x4", Terylene advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1950-1970. (Published Terylene advertisement in Joy Jobbins archive 2008/15/1) 46. Colour transparency, 5"x4", Hollandia shoe advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1965-1980. 47. Colour transparency, 5"x4", Patons Knitwear advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1955-1970. 48. Colour transparency, 5"x4", Sportscraft advertisement, woman in checked suit, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1960-1970. Automobiles 1. Colour transparency, photograph of blue car, Holden Kingswood Station Wagon with girls hockey team gathered round, for General Motors Holden advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, late 1960s. Relates to 93/246/1-6/17 2. Colour transparency, photograph of dark green car in country setting with couple standing alongside, for Ford automobile advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated 3. Colour transparency, photograph of yellow car in country setting with couple leaning on car and one model sitting on ground leaning on car, for Ford automobile advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated. 4. Colour transparencies (3), photographs of [Datsun] at [Calder] race ground, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1974-1976. 5. Colour transparencies (6), photographs of model Cheryl Rizon wearing shorts and top with automobile tyre, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated. Cigarette advertisements (after Henry Talbot stopped smoking, he refused to do cigarette ads) 1. Colour transparencies (4), photographs of girl smoking cigarette in front of building for Viscount / Kent cigarette advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, [Vienna], Europe, undated. 2. Colour transparency, photograph of well dressed people in hotel setting with waiter in background for Kent cigarette advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated. 3. Colour transparencies (8), photographs of girl in black bodice and white blouse smoking at a table in a field of wildflowers for Kent cigarette advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, Vienna, 1965-70. Miscellaneous commercial photographs 1. Colour transparency, 5" x 4", photograph of mother and child eating soup at table with bread and bowl of fruit, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1960s. 2. Colour transparency, 5" x 4", photograph of five models on beach in picnic setting with fire, for soup, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1960s. 3. Colour proofs (6), photographs of model wearing fur coat, for Yvonne Rockman Furs / Lisal Furs, photography by Henry Talbot, outside Melbourne, 1970s. 4. Colour transparency, 5" x 4", photograph of boy and girl modelling hand knitted cardigans for PATTENS knitwear, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, late 1950s -early 1960s. 5. Colour transparency, 5" x 4", photograph of model in checked trouser suit, for Sportscraft, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1960s. 6. Colour transparency, 5" x 4", photograph of model in pink dressing gown with mirror, for Lucas Lingerie, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated. 7. Colour transparency, 5" x 4", photograph on beach, still life with tree, chair, window draped with fabric and table with flowers, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated. 8. Colour transparency, 5" x 4", photograph of six assorted shoes, for Hollandia Shoe advertisement, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, undated. 9. Colour transparency, 10" x 8", photograph of model in bath of milk with roses, for Cyclax 'Milk of Roses' advertisement/ promotion, photography by Henry Talbot, Latrobe Studios, Melbourne, 1963-1964. Advertising agency: Cy Cater. Art Director: Roger Kennedy. Flowers from Latrobe Florist, Melbourne. (The milk went off. HT ordered the shot to be set up in large bath, milk poured Thursday/Friday, shot taken on Thursday/Friday. When the photographer returned to the studio on Monday the milk was stinking.) 10. Colour transparency, 5"x4", soup advertisement, woman and child seated at table, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1955-1975. 11. Colour transparency, 5"x4", soup advertisement, men and women on the beach with picnic basket, campfire and billy, photography by Henry Talbot, Melbourne, 1955-1975 12. Colour transparencies (4), Jenny Kee with the Jenny Kee G'Day chair, photography by Henry Talbot, Sydney, 1980s. In the late 1980s Brian Sayer, co-designer of the G'Day chair (1988), invited artists to redesign the G'Day chair, and photographers to photograph the chairs, for an annual G'Day gala AIDS benefit exhibition and auction in collaboration with Sotheby's and the Yuill Crowley Gallery, Sydney. Personal 13. Colour transparency, snow sculpture with egg shaped snow form, photography by Henry Talbot, Sevenoaks, Kent, England, late 1990s. This is one of Henry Talbot's last photographs, taken while strolling through the English countryside in the last years of his life.

PRODUCTION

Notes

Henry Talbot b. Henri Stephen Tichauer, Hindenburg, Germany 1920; arrived Australia 1940 (aboard the Dunera); d. 1999 Biography prepared by Anne-Marie Van de Ven, Curator 2008 Talbot's interest in photography emerged after his parents presented him with a Rolleiflex camera on his thirteenth birthday (bar mitzvah). Mid 1930s - studies graphic design at the Reimann School in Berlin before emigrating to England just prior to the outbreak of WWII. Transported to Australia aboard the Dunera, arriving in 1940. Interned in Hay, then served in the Australian Army from 1942 to 1946. 1946/1947 Studied graphic design at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology before travelling to Bolivia (1947-1950) to be reunited with his parents. It was here that he turned to photography, winning an award in a local photography competition. Returned to Australia in 1950. Worked in various Melbourne studios as a printer and a photographer, with a brief stint in Sydney in 1953. In 1954 he worked as a commercial photographer with La Trobe Studio in Melbourne. In 1956 Helmut Newton (b. Helmut Neustadter), offered Talbot a partnership in his photographic studio which then became known as Newton & Talbot. In 1958, Talbot received the Australian Fashion News 'Fashion Photographer of the Year' award. In 1959, he then went on an overseas trip, returning in 1960. Shortly afterwards Helmut Newton decided to move to Europe permanently, leaving Henry with the studio. From the late 1950s through to the early 1970s Talbot produced commercial photography for a host of leading Australian fashion and advertising clients, including Ford and GMH. His photographs appeared in Vogue and Flair (Australia), Harpers Bazaar (England), Jardin des Monde (France), and many other magazines and catalogues. In 1963, Talbot was awarded the C.S.Christian Trophy of the Australian Photographic Society. In 1965 he won the A.P.R. Achievement in Photography Award. In 1967 he received the Award of Distinction at the Pacific Photographic Fair. In 1968 he received the Distinctive Merit Award of the Art Directors Club of Melbourne. A photography exhibition titled, 'A walk through Henry Talbot's head' with poster design by Bruce Weatherhead, was held in Melbourne during October 1968. (92/1256-1/12) Talbot turned to teaching in the early 1970s, and became Head of Photography in the School of Art and Design at Preston (later Phillip) Institute of Technology, Melbourne (1973/4 - 1985). There he recruited outstanding photographers to assist him, including Ian Lobb, Mark Strizic and Carroll Jerrems. In 1974, Henry married Lynette Mortimer. They had two sons, Neale and John Paul. In 1985, Henry moved to Sydney with his family where he continued to practice as a commercial photographer (mainly wedding photography) but also focused on a number of photographic projects including studies of the nude, portraits of prominent Australian Jews, and re-photographing some Hill End goldfield sites and locations that featured in Holtermann Collection photographs (1872-1875 - State Library of NSW collection). Henry Talbot deposited his commercial photography archive with the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney in 1993 and a smaller archive of colour transparencies was bequeathed to the Museum following the photographer's death in 1999. References / sources: Notes from meetings with the photographer and his family, 1992-1999 Printed documents in the archive, and other references including, Henry Talbot a Profile, Australian Photography, 11 December 1966 Robert McFarlane, 'Obituary: Henry Fox Talbot, Photographer 1920-1999', ACMP News 6, 1999. http://www.acmp.com.au/acmpnews/3acmpnews6.htm (Accessed 12/6/08) Collection Database/Search, National Portrait Gallery http://www.portrait.gov.au/static/coll_8885C27The+Last+Picture+Show5C27.php (Accessed 12/5/08)

HISTORY

Notes

This small archive remained in the collection of the photographer until his death in 1999. It had been held for his own personal use, or simply because individual or groups of negatives and transparencies had at different times been separated from their original file and not returned. The photographer explicitly asked that this material be passed onto the Museum as a complement to the archive (Powerhouse Museum object number 93/246/1). In accordance with his expressed wishes, his family then arranged for the material to be deposited with the Museum shortly after Henry Talbot passed away in 1999.

SOURCE

Credit Line

Gift of the Estate of Henry Talbot, 2008

Acquisition Date

11 August 2008

Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.

Image Licensing Enquiry

Object Enquiry